Such behavior is typical of good windows programs. So many programs mess up the registry that programs are forced to check and update the registry whenever they start. Some programs just about run their install routines every time they are started.

The registry is ultimatly a failure becuase MS didn't think it through all the way. They didn't worry about what would happen when multiple applications from multiple companies shared the registry. They didn't lay out sensible guide lines to keep applications from stepping on each other or the system.

Jay